News
Virgin Blue has been voted as Australia’s best overall airline in a poll of more than 4000 flyers, conducted by Choice, the leading consumer group. The poll looked at 4,307 passengers who had recently flown domestically in the last three years, and Virgin Blue took top billing with an overall satisfaction rate of 68 percent. […]
A decision is expected to be made today in the High Court on whether 7 million Australians will be able to receive the Government’s promised $900 stimulus package cash bonus. Legal academic Bryan Pape is challenging the stimulus package cash handouts, claiming they “exceed the government’s taxation powers” and are simply “a gift.” Pape believes […]
The ACCC has proposed authorising an agreement between members of an ATM sub-network not to charge each other’s cardholders a fee for transactions at ATMs owned by members. The reforms allow sub-networks to operate where financial institutions continue to charge each other for their cardholders’ transactions, rather than charging the cardholder directly. The sub-network, branded […]
Treasurer Wayne Swan has put pressure on the RBA to further drop interest rates believing it will help cushion the economy from the global financial crisis. The RBA last month kept the cash rate at 3.25 percent, the lowest in 45 years, but Swan believes the bank has “room to cut rates further if necessary.” […]
The switch is on for young and old. The Federal Government’s $6.7 million advertising campaign to educate consumers about digital TV and encourage people to make the switch before the 2013 deadline; is set to begin this week on free-to-air TV and radio. Speaking at a digital TV conference in Sydney yesterday, executive director of […]
Japan’s economy is in trouble yet again, with figures showing automobile production and industrial output plunged in February. Figures released from the country’s Industry and Economy Ministry revealed automobile production in Japan dropped 56.2 percent in February from a year earlier, the fifth straight monthly fall as the global recession hits; with industrial production falling […]
A report conducted by The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) of the performance of Australia’s airports, has found that Sydney airport is the worst performing in the country. Sydney has ranked the ‘worst performer’ for service and value for the third year in a row. The assessment was conducted by passengers, airlines and government […]
Pitch Club, a business networking event designed to help entrepreneurs pitch their ideas from a miniature boxing ring to an audience of potential investors, is calling on all entrepreneurs to participate in its upcoming events. In its second year, PitchClub has received national acclaim for its successful events, aimed at “energising Australia’s entrepreneur and investment […]
The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson has today launched Tourism Australia’s No Leave, No Life campaign to encourage Australians to use their accrued leave and $900 stimulus bonus on a local Aussie holiday. The No Leave, No Life program has been developed in conjunction with the business community to offer employees and employers the tools […]
Bankwest has confirmed it will slash 400 jobs, in an effort to keep the company afloat during the downturn. The subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank is set to cut 250 jobs in Western Australia, and the rest on the east coast. The decision comes after four years of rapid expansion that has seen Perth-based Bankwest increase […]
Treasure Wayne Swan has said that Australia will survive the world financial crisis and will come out of it more prosperous. Mr Swan believes that Australia’s strong financial system will put the economy in a better position than other nations. “While there are no quick fixes to this global recession, with the right action globally […]
Consumers are turning their backs on Bonds, following parent company Pacific Brands decision to slash 1850 Australian jobs from it’s Bonds and King Gee operations and send them overseas. According to a report on Sky News Online, online retailer’s sales have dropped substantially since the announcement and major retailers have been forced to launch advertisement […]
In a partnership with Vodafone Australia, Europe’s leading provider of high-quality, low-cost international mobile services, Lebara Mobile, has entered the Australian market, launching Australia’s first prepaid mobile SIM card for consumers offering low cost international call rates. The prepaid SIM card offers competitive local call rates, so customers can also take advantage of low-cost local, […]
Last week, the PR industry was put in the spotlight with Jen Bishop’s blog ‘Media coverage or your PR for free?’ I understand Jen’s concerns about where she sits with the whole ‘guaranteeing PR coverage for clients or they get it for free’ debate. However, I don’t think she should feel pressured to publish an […]
Individual taxpayers who are employed and not in business, are being incorrectly advised by car salesmen that they will get the 30 percent investment allowance if they purchase a new car simply by applying for an ABN, says “Mr Taxman” Adrian Raftery. Raftery said he has had a number of clients coming to him requesting […]
This month has seen a renewed interest in the banking sector, especially since the US announced its latest package to support the financial industry. Of the big Australian four banks, WBC has risen around 19 percent, while NAB and CBA have each risen around 20 percent, with the standout performer being ANZ having risen around […]
You know I don’t like to be controversial or provoke reaction of any kind, but… The last time I blogged on the subject of women in business it kicked off big style. My spiel on networking group Business Chicks got a few people hot under the collar and it was a great debate, although it […]
The Federal Government is set to give a $720 million cash flow boost to small business, self-funded retirees and small superannuation funds, in an effort to free up cash flow to provide further economic stimulus. Under the plan, the quarterly PAYG (pay-as-you-go) instalments will be cut for 1.5 million taxpayers in the 2009-10 financial year. […]
Thousands of Telstra customers were left confused and a little late yesterday, when an electronic glitch caused a number of mobile phones, BlackBerries and personal digital assistants to change their internal clocks a week early, winding back the clock one hour. According to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald, many people were left late to […]
Legal academic Bryan Pape is set to challenge the Rudd Government’s stimulus package in the High Court today, citing the package as “exceeding the government’s taxation powers” making the bonus a “gift.” If Pape is successful in overturning the new law, it could mean that a number of payments made in past years could be […]
